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Wilson Canyon

Sunday, May 29, 2011 by The Hike House 2 Comments

The Hike House Sedona Trail Rating System
Wilson Canyon

This trail begins at the picnic ramada just up the old roadway from the Midgely Bridge parking area. At .1 miles, bear right onto the trail marked by large rock cairns. It gradually climbs, then descends to the normally dry canyon drainage. At .6 miles, pas the fork to the right signed for the Wilson Mountain Trail and then the fork to the left signed for the Jim Thompson Trail. Continue ahead, entering the wilderness area in the partial shade of live shrub oak and small Arizona cypress. Views are now limited to the tops of the canyon walls and the upper portion of Wilson Mountain ahead. Nearing 1.5 miles, the trail enters the drainage and proceeds over red rock with an occasional rock scramble in the shade of large Arizona cypress. At 1.5 miles, there is a red rock outcrop on the right. A side path climbs this and continues a short way, ascending about 100 feet to a saddle offering excellent views. This is a good place to turn around and return by the same route for a 3 mile roundtrip hike.

Trail Data

Distance: 1.5/3 miles (One way/Round Trip)
Time: 1.5 hours (Round Trip)
Elevation Change: 100 ft.
Difficulty: Moderate

Trail Rating

VN:RO [1.9.8_1114]
Overall
Views
Difficulty
Rating: 2.8/5

Video Slideshow and Commentary Coming Soon

Sedona Trail Rating System

The Hike House Sedona Trail Rating System provides actual hiker feedback and ratings of each of the Sedona hiking trails. The cumulative trail ratings for the Wilson Canyon submitted by fellow hikers is located above with the Trail Data. Your trail feedback and ratings are an important resource for fellow hikers and provide a personal account of your trail experience from which others may learn. So please hike Sedona, help others, and rate a trail today!

Filed Under: Sedona Trail Rating System Tagged With: hiking sedona, The Hike House, Wilson Canyon

Wilson (North) to First Bench

Sunday, May 29, 2011 by The Hike House 1 Comment

The Hike House Sedona Trail Rating System
Wilson (North) to
First Bench

The North Willson Trail begins at the Encinoso Picnic Area and climbs a shady side canyon of Wilson Mountain in the Red Rock-Secret Mountain Wilderness. J.J. Thompson, a homesteader in Oak Creek Canyon, established the trail for grazing his cattle and horses on the grassy mountaintop. The trail zigzags up to the First Bench of Wilson Mountain, a large, sloping plateau formed by the down-fault of a huge block of the mountain. The bench is covered with black basalt lava and stretches across the east side of the mountain, offering great views of the San Francisco Peaks, the Mogollon Rim and the mouth of Munds Canyon. At the south endof the First Bench, the trail meets the Wilson Mountain Trail coming up from Midgley Bridge. To hike further, the trail continues to the top of Wilson Mountain.

Trail Data

Distance: 1.8/3.6 miles (One way/Round Trip)
Time: 2 hours (Round Trip)
Elevation Change: 1700 ft.
Difficulty: Very Difficult

Trail Rating

VN:RO [1.9.8_1114]
Overall
Views
Difficulty
Rating: 4.6/5

Video Slideshow and Commentary Coming Soon

Sedona Trail Rating System

The Hike House Sedona Trail Rating System provides actual hiker feedback and ratings of each of the Sedona hiking trails. The cumulative trail ratings for the Wilson (North) to First Bench submitted by fellow hikers is located above with the Trail Data. Your trail feedback and ratings are an important resource for fellow hikers and provide a personal account of your trail experience from which others may learn. So please hike Sedona, help others, and rate a trail today!

Filed Under: Sedona Trail Rating System Tagged With: hiking sedona, The Hike House, Wilson (North) to First Bench

West Fork Trail

Sunday, May 29, 2011 by The Hike House 21 Comments

The Hike House Sedona Trail Rating System
West Fork Trail

There are a number of reasons why West Fork is the most popular trail on the Coconino National Forest. You’ll know some of them once you’ve strolled beside the pleasant little stream that ripples along the canyon floor and looked up, way up, at the dizzying cliffs that tower above it. You’ll know even more if you come in the spring,when migrating songbirds decorate the trees with flashes of brilliance, or in the fall when pastel leaves float in clear reflecting pools under a canopy of solid color. You can even add to that list if you come in the winter, when icicles hang from red rock overhangs and snatches of snow persist in cool shadows. As a matter of fact, you’ll probably find a new reason to be here every time you visit.

As for the trail itself, it’s an easy stroll, but you do have to cross the stream in a number of places. Usually, that involves negotiating a few strategically placed stepping stones or taking a couple of steps in shallow water. The trail is marked for the first three miles; however, many hikers continue beyond that. Eventually the pathway ends and you will be forced to hike in the stream bed as you continue into the Secret Mountain/Red Rocks Wilderness. If you choose to travel all 14 miles from one end of the canyon to the other, plan to do a lot of wading and boulder hopping, and even some swimming.
No matter how long a hike you take here, you’ll enjoy it best if you come at a time when the trail is least crowded. Mornings and weekdays are best, better yet if they’re in the off-season.

When you do come, remember to take special care and leave this beautiful place better than you found it. Of course you know not to litter, but picking flowers and autumn leaves can cause just as unsightly a scar. So can short-cutting or rock throwing. Treat this natural treasure with the care it deserves and you’ll have plenty of reason to come back and see it again and again.

Trail Data

Distance: 3.2/6.4 miles (One way/Round Trip)
Time: 3.5 hours (Round Trip)
Elevation Change: 300 ft.
Difficulty: Moderate
Map: Click here for a map of West Fork trail.

Trail Rating

VN:RO [1.9.8_1114]
Overall
Views
Difficulty
Rating: 3.5/5

View the West Fork Trail Slideshow and Commentary

Sedona Trail Rating System

The Hike House Sedona Trail Rating System provides actual hiker feedback and ratings of each of the Sedona hiking trails. The cumulative trail ratings for the West Fork Trail submitted by fellow hikers is located above with the Trail Data. Your trail feedback and ratings are an important resource for fellow hikers and provide a personal account of your trail experience from which others may learn. So please hike Sedona, help others, and rate a trail today!

Filed Under: Sedona Trail Rating System Tagged With: hiking sedona, The Hike House, West Fork Trail

Vultee Arch Trail

Sunday, May 29, 2011 by The Hike House 1 Comment

The Hike House Sedona Trail Rating System
Vultee Arch Trail

A short, easy hike along the bottom of Sterling Canyon. The drainage is dry most of the year. Shade is available, but it would be wise to carry some water in the warm months. 

The signed trailhead is on the east side of the parking area. The well maintained trail almost immediately enters Wilderness and climbs gradually in the shade of Arizona cypress beside a dry stream bed on the floor of Sterling Canyon. There are occasional views of red rock formations to the left and of the sheer walls of Lost Wilson Mountain on the right. After .75 miles, the trail enters stands of ponderosa pine and oak which show the scars from the 1996 “Arch” fire. Nearing the 1.75 mile point, there is a marked fork. Sterling Pass Trail branches off to the right. Keep left and continue 100 yards where the trail ends at a large red rock outcrop. There are nice views of the canyon, mountains and of Vultee Arch, about .25 miles the north.

The trail dead ends at a bronze plaque placed in memorium for Gerard and Sylvia Vultee who lost their lives in an aircraft crash on January 29, 1938. The actual crash site is more than a mile north and at a much higher elevation, on East Picket Mesa. On the north side of the canyon across from the plaque is the sandstone arch named for Vultee, an early aircraft designer from California. Just before the plaque site there is a junction with the Sterling Pass Trail which continues over into Oak Creek Canyon. Return by the same route for a a 3.5 mile hike.

Trail Data

Distance: 1.75/3.5 miles (One way/Round Trip)
Time: 2 hours (Round Trip)
Elevation Change: 400 ft.
Difficulty: Moderate

Trail Rating

VN:RO [1.9.8_1114]
Overall
Views
Difficulty
Rating: 3.6/5

Video Slideshow and Commentary Coming Soon

Sedona Trail Rating System

The Hike House Sedona Trail Rating System provides actual hiker feedback and ratings of each of the Sedona hiking trails. The cumulative trail ratings for the Vultee Arch Trail submitted by fellow hikers is located above with the Trail Data. Your trail feedback and ratings are an important resource for fellow hikers and provide a personal account of your trail experience from which others may learn. So please hike Sedona, help others, and rate a trail today!

Filed Under: Sedona Trail Rating System Tagged With: hiking sedona, The Hike House, Vultee Arch Trail

Teacup Trail

Sunday, May 29, 2011 by The Hike House 3 Comments

The Hike House Sedona Trail Rating System
Teacup Trail

The Teacup Trail passes under Coffeepot Rock along the massive red rock cliffs fronting the north edge of Sedona. The 1.8 mile trail links the eastern and western trails of the North Urban Trail System. The scenic trail connects with Soldier Pass Trail by the Devil’s Kitchen sinkholde. The trail can be hiked in either direction, extended with connecting trails, or hiked as a one-way shuttle. Tthis hike begins by Sugarloaf Hill and heads east.

Trail Data

Distance: 1.6/3.2 miles (One way/Round Trip)
Time: 2 hours (Round Trip)
Elevation Change: 150 ft.
Difficulty: Moderate

Trail Rating

VN:RO [1.9.8_1114]
Overall
Views
Difficulty
Rating: 3.1/5

Video Slideshow and Commentary Coming Soon

Sedona Trail Rating System

The Hike House Sedona Trail Rating System provides actual hiker feedback and ratings of each of the Sedona hiking trails. The cumulative trail ratings for the Teacup Trail submitted by fellow hikers is located above with the Trail Data. Your trail feedback and ratings are an important resource for fellow hikers and provide a personal account of your trail experience from which others may learn. So please hike Sedona, help others, and rate a trail today!

Filed Under: Sedona Trail Rating System Tagged With: hiking sedona, Teacup Trail, The Hike House

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Hogs Trail

Wednesday, May 18, 2016 1 Comment

Hogs Trail One of the most underrated areas in Sedona is Munds Wilderness. Many people in the past would take on this area because the predominant trail for this area, Broken Arrow, is adjacent to a heavily traveled jeep road. A new day has arrived…while you still must hike a portion of Broken Arrow to get to Hogs, the trail departs from the … [Read More...]

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